FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
March 16 2020
CRISIS REVEAL CHARACTER.
“Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth In man, and maketh flesh his [right] arm [for power], and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inherit the parched places of the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth In the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (read verse 8 containing the the conditional promise).” Jer. 17:5-8.
Verses 9,10 reveals the hidden contents of our hearts. But consider the following: “It is in a crisis that character is revealed. When the earnest voice proclaimed at midnight, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him! and the sleeping virgins were roused from their slumbers, it was SEEN who had made preparation for the event. Both parties were taken unawares; BUT one was prepared for the emergency, and the other was found without preparation. So NOW, a sudden and UNLOOKED-FOR calamity, something that brings the soul face to face with DEATH, will show whether there is real faith in the promises of God.
It will show whether the soul is sustained by grace. The great final test (which is in its way) comes at the close of human probation, when it will be too late for the soul’s need to be supplied [see Amos 8:11,12]. The ten virgins [symbolizing the Christian world including the remnant] are watching in the EVENING of this earth’s history. All CLAIM [profess] to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all profess to be doing God’s service. All APPARENTLY wait for Christ, appearing.
But five are unready. Five will be found surprised, dismayed and outside the banquet hall [the marriage supper of the Lamb, Rev. 19:9,17].” COL 412. See Matt 25: 1-13; Luke 13:27; Matt.7: 21-23. More important that need for the COVID-19 Test is the testing time all who profess to be followers of Christ are going through this very time. The judgment is now passing above! Remember this: “The fear of man brings a snare (part of Satan’s unnumbered schemes in this last days), but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:25. Remember, we shall be tested by IT IS WRITTEN. May God’s empowering grace be with you all. NMF